Government has cancelled a weekend ferry service between Dockyard and St George’s, according to Mayor Kenneth Bascome.The service was introduced at the request of cruise ship operators.Mr Bascome said he was told that low ridership and high costs were the reason for its cancellation.He said the Corporation of St George’s intends to approach cruise ship operators for sponsorship so the service can continue.“Hopefully if not before the end of the season, by next season we will get something in place,” Mr Bascome said.The Ministry of Transport has not confirmed that the weekend trips have been cancelled and did not respond to requests for comment by press time.Mr Bascome has long pushed for better public transportation connecting the town and Dockyard in hopes of getting more business from cruise ship passengers.Ferry visits to the town were significantly increased this year, but Mr Bascome said yesterday: “I was informed on Monday by my secretary that he had received a phone call informing him that the weekend ferries had been cancelled to a lack of ridership.”He said the weekend route operated town twice every other Saturday when the Explorer of the Seas was in port.The route was included in a Government list of weekend additional ferries in May and June.Mr Bascome believes Government should put the service out to tender.He said that the increase in ferry visits this summer has made a notable impact in the East End, with visitors flocking to the town.Meanwhile, he told area residents at a recent public meeting that businesses in the community could do more to attract customers.“Going from nine to five is no longer the way to run a business,” he said. “Maybe they need to open later and stay open later in the evenings.“Between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, visitors are coming through the town and going straight to the beaches. At 3.30pm, 4.30pm they are walking back into the town and everybody in the stores are getting ready to go home so they lose an opportunity to make some money.”Later hours would also benefit St George’s residents who work in Hamilton, he added.The Mayor acknowledged the closure of several businesses in the town but said even more have opened during his tenure.“There are a number of young entrepreneurs who have seen the possibilities and they have grabbed the opportunity to open new businesses in St George’s,” he said.Mr Bascome said he is pleased the Ministry of Tourism seems to be looking seriously at the concept of cultural tourism, leveraging the town’s history to attract visitors.